Received: by alpheratz.cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk id XAA17802 (8.6.9/5.3[ref pg@gmsl.co.uk] for cpm.aca.mmu.ac.uk from fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk); Tue, 13 Feb 2001 23:48:36 GMT From: <joedees@bellsouth.net> To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 17:52:14 -0600 Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Subject: Re: Human Genome Message-ID: <3A89744E.1394.488DE6@localhost> In-reply-to: <F47FYgx7YbNcvHjtQab0001aba4@hotmail.com> X-mailer: Pegasus Mail for Win32 (v3.12c) Sender: fmb-majordomo@mmu.ac.uk Precedence: bulk Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
On 13 Feb 2001, at 18:37, Scott Chase wrote:
>
>
>
>
> >From: <joedees@bellsouth.net>
> >Reply-To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> >To: memetics@mmu.ac.uk
> >Subject: Re: Human Genome
> >Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2001 00:01:48 -0600
> >
> >On 13 Feb 2001, at 11:08, Dr Able Lawrence wrote:
> >
> >That's 30,000.
> > >
> > > Hi All,
> > > Genome report (only 3000 genes) is not really surprising
> > > at all if
> > > we understand the implications of the recently discovered
> > > complexities in gene expression regulation The transcription
> > > factors are huge multi subunit complexes with countless
> > > interactions amongst them. The permutation and combination
> > > possible for interactions amongst transcription factors is realy
> > > mind boggling. There is more to genetics than mere genes and DNA
> > > sequences.
> > > The real implication of the new finding is that one gene-
> > > one
> > > function hypothesis is dead. Now we know that a single gene can
> > > produce myriad proteins like the immunoglobuin or T cell receptor
> > > or neural adhesion molecules involved in the complex wiring of the
> > > nervous system. On the contrary multiple genes are required for
> > > functional units (multi subunit complexes) involved in such vital
> > > functions as regulation of gene expression or respiration or
> > > protein synthesis.
> > > A lot of the complexity in higher organism is probably at the
> > > level
> > > of gene-gene interactions and the complex cascading and epigenetic
> > > effects on gene expression.
> > > To emphasize the point further, all our cells have the same
> > > DNA
> > > sequence (well almost) but are morphologically and functionally
> > > diverse.
> > > So it is not necessary to have different sets of genes but
> > > more fine
> > > tuned interactions to create us humans.
> > > As I pointed out earlier that smple minor variations in gene
> > > expressions can have profound morphological implications. So the
> > > gene regulating embryogenesis (Hox genes) are highly conserved
> > > vertically in the evolutionary ladder (ladder itself is an
> > > anthropocentric view and other organisms can object!)
> > > Throughout evolution new functions have rarely ever come about
> > > by
> > > inventing new genes (it takes too much directed ingenuity for
> > > that, may be only Lamarck or biotechnologists a few decades down
> > > the line can only do it) but by making new use or modifying old
> > > genes. Once useful but rudimentary function is discovered for an
> > > old gene, variation and evolution (and duplication if the old gene
> > > already has an indispensable function) would be favoured and would
> > > arise in due course of time. Duplication of genes in malignant
> > > clones in the body is a case in point.
> > > It would be ridiculous to say that the multidrug resistance
> > > gene in
> > > human malignancy had the same function before that begins to get
> > > favoured by surviving tumour cells.
> > > We must view genes as dynamically interacting
> > > information
> > > and also should not forget that the genes get their properties
> > > through the proteins they encode (with all the complexities of
> > > protein chemistry and protein protein interaction)
> > >
> > > Anthropocentrism is alive only in Christian
> > > theology!!
> > >
> >
> >
> The number may be off, but the jist about gene for this and that being
> dead is important. With cooperation within co-adapted gene complexes
> being a big consideration, it looks like they threw their innate
> selfishness out the window long ago and opted to subserve the
> generation of a body plan and the needs of the organis^h^h^h^ehicle.
> Genes operate in a context where cell-cell interaction and the
> molecular interplay at the surface are important.
>
> Another point is that our cells possess the same genome, but during
> differentiation and specialization, they express different subsets of
> the genome or express various genes to different degrees. IIRC
> methylation is an important means to shutting genes up (ie-
> regulation).
>
> I'll pretend I didn't see the part about ladders.
>
> BTW Joe did you miss my post to Robin about P.E.T. recently? What did
> you mean by the release of isotopes?
>
I meant the release of positrons, as one would expect with positron
emissive tomography.
>
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>
> ===============================================================
> This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
> Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
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===============================================================
This was distributed via the memetics list associated with the
Journal of Memetics - Evolutionary Models of Information Transmission
For information about the journal and the list (e.g. unsubscribing)
see: http://www.cpm.mmu.ac.uk/jom-emit
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